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Tuesday, March 3, 2015

By the title of my post, you probably think I'm stuck in January. I know it is already March, but it took me a few months to get focused and inspired for what I want to accomplish this year. Personally, I don't like the rigidity of having to have it all figured out on the first day of the year. I'm a firm believer that it's never too late to set new goals for yourself or refocus your energy in to other endeavors. (Sidenote- this is probably why it took me two undergrad degrees and 24 years of soul-searching to figure out what I wanted to do!)

1.) Read a new book each month

For you avid book readers, this probably seems silly. 30 days to read ONE book?! I know, I know. I actually love to read but never seem to find the time, so this goal encourages me to get in bed and read a few pages each day. So far I've read Not That Kind of Girl, The Empathy Exams, and Tiny Beautiful Things.

2.) Workout 4 Times a Week

What would a resolution list be without at least one item dedicated to improving health and fitness? As you may recall, I have long been a fan of Define Body & Mind and love that they offer toning and lengthening classes as well as spin classes. Define is similar to Pure Barre because the classes combine ballet barre work, toning, pilates, and core strength work. I am the worst about going to the gym on my own and putting in the work, so Define provides that class atmosphere where I am forced to put in the effort for a full hour. I made it my goal this year to go 4 times a week, with 3 classes of cardiovascular exercise (revolution spin class) and at least 1 body class. I also find using the app My Fitness Pal to be helpful for tracking calories and water intake during the day.

3.) Buy Less, Choose Well

As Oscar Wilde once said, "Nowadays people know the price of everything but the value of nothing." Gone are the days where I would frequent Forever 21 or H&M to find cheap but trendy clothes to wear a few times and then forget about. As I get in to my later 20s, I have begun to understand the importance of investing in quality pieces that stand the test of time. Even though that means I won't be shopping or buying nearly as much, I find that I'm happier about my purchases for much longer these days. I still carry this bag with me everyday!

4.) Embrace Solitude

I recently learned from Meg Biram's newsletter what the single habit of 7 highly successful people is, (spoiler alert- it's embracing solitude) and it really made me think about how easy it is to get lost in busy-ness. Personally, I find that when I'm alone and really doing nothing that most of my creative ideas come to me. With the constant distraction technology provides, it's become harder and harder to just sit and think.

Without finding solitude and quietness, we stifle our own ability to be creative and innovative. As the article states, "For
all the benefits of technology making the world so small, the reality
is that we're so connected to others we've become disconnected to
ourselves. We are seeing the extinction of healthy existentialism. The
individual has dissolved. No drops, just ocean."

So this year, I'm taking a cue from these two brilliant minds and finding time to be alone and reflect:

“If you are alone you belong entirely to yourself. If you are
accompanied by even one companion you belong only half to yourself or
even less in proportion to the thoughtlessness of his conduct and if you
have more than one companion you will fall more deeply into the same
plight.” ― Leonardo da Vinci

“We
live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence, and private:
and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship.” ― C.S. Lewis

What are your resolutions this year? Are you finding it hard to stick to them?

Monday, March 2, 2015

Happy Monday!! Anyone else desperate for a little sunshine? My weather app is depressing me, showing me all fog and cold for the next 7 days, so I'm trying to stay positive by reflecting on highlights of my past few weeks...

A friend of mine recently came and stayed with me while she was in town for a wedding, and left me the most gorgeous floral arrangement that she put together herself!

She's a high school math teacher but I suspect she could make a living as a florist if she wanted to!

I tried Pondicheri for the first time this weekend, a popular Indian fusion restaurant in Houston, and it did not disappoint. The atmosphere is intimate and chic, and the semolina puffs with black bean potato mix were perfect with a cup of masala chai:

A few weeks ago we celebrated one of my closest friend's 27th birthdays with watermelon mint and jalepeno blueberry margaritas at El Big Bad! To me, these are the best margaritas in Houston.

I constantly miss my parent's Great Dane, Graycie, who lives with them up in Oklahoma City, so it was so fun to see a Great Dane at Jackson's Watering Hole recently that could have been classified as a horse. The owner said he weighed 185 lbs!!

I made a New Year's Resolution to read a new book each month, and for February I picked The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison:

Speaking of great books and authors, did you know yesterday was Dr. Seuss's birthday?! My mom is an elementary school teacher and a big fan of Dr. Seuss, so she dressed my niece up to celebrate the occasion!

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Happy Thursday my loves! How's your week going? I am currently watching St. Vincent while putting together this post and I must say- this movie is seriously touching. Naturally, since it stars Melissa McCarthy, I thought it was going to be a laugh-out-loud comedy. And although it is funny, it's making me tear up as I type this. Definitely put it on your watch list! And here are a few other things I'm loving right now...

1.) Is it peony season yet? I can't wait to see these beauties gracing the flower aisle of Central Market.2.) I'm loving Tory Burch's Fleming Patent Handbags, $465 for all their vibrant colors! They are the perfect size for a date night or a girls night out.3.) I think a collection of pink tennis balls should be the new table centerpiece. 4.) This scalloped Embroidered Sheet Set on Gilt, $99, is perfectly stylish AND affordable.5.) I love statement necklaces, and Bauble Bar's Gold Kocoum Bib Necklace, $44,

6.) Marc Jacobs is the man, and I'd say this quote is my new mantra.7.) Amanda Nisbet's Upper East Side office, photographed for Lonny back in 2012, is a playful mix of color and quirk. I love the Jonathan Adler screen shown near the inspiration board- it provides a functional yet whimsical divider!8.) Urban Outfitters' I Literally Don't Care at All Mug, $10, is my sentiment exactly and perfect for sipping coffee out of on lazy weekend mornings.

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Wednesday, February 25, 2015

One thing all interior designers will tell you is that there isn't ANY space in a home that's off limits from being beautified. Every room should be functional and thoughtfully planned while also being beautiful- and that includes the laundry room! I love seeing laundry rooms that have been built or renovated with a family's specific needs in mind. As a dog lover, I thought this custom-designed puppy shower was genius (and adorable)!

I also love the look of brick flooring in wet areas. And it would be pretty convenient to have 2 sets of washer/dryers- but I can only imagine how many loads of laundry and/or kids it would take to justify this!!

And last but definitely not least- how perfect would it be to have your washer and dryer conveniently stacked in your closet? Austin Bean designed this custom dressing room with ample storage and beautiful finishes:

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Happy Tuesday! Are you all surviving this cold weather? The only way I am making it is by gearing up for pool season and keeping warm weather in mind! I recently got this bikini and this sun hat for summer, and seeing them in my closet is making me look forward to the warmth (and keeping me motivated at the gym)! A few weeks ago, I came across this gorgeous living room and instantly fell in love with the tortoise coffee table:

It provides the perfect focal point and looks lovely paired with the club chairs upholstered in Aerin Lauder's flamestitch fabric, Watersedge. A faux tortoise finish adds such character and charm to casegoods and accents around a home. How fab is this tortoise shell patterned wallcovering?

Friday, February 20, 2015

I am so looking forward to the weather warming up in the next few months so I can break out the rompers and sundresses. I stick to a minimal palette during winter, but love to incorporate brighter colors and pattern in to my wardrobe during the spring and summer months. I definitely want to invest in a cute, airy kimono this year...

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Today I thought I'd share a few decor updates happening around my casa. The first one is that I finally found the perfect piece of art to go above my sofa!

As you can see from the picture, my living room has two windows that start approximately 4' above my sofa to allow extra light in (I live in a townhouse, so the windows really only show the stucco of the house next door!). This presented a particularly difficult design challenge as I wanted to find a statement piece of art that would extend most of the length of my sofa, but it couldn't be more than 39" inches in height. I finally came across this piece, "Rhomba" by Kelly O'Neal, at Found for the Home and LOVE it. Right now, I have it paired with two pink mohair pillows, but am having two pillows upholstered in Schumacher's Shock Wave in Platinum/Jet made right now to add to the mix:

Last fall, I added this pretty Aerin burnished silver table lamp to my sofa side table (you can see a peek of my old art and throw pillow combination). I love this lamp, especially because it has both brass and silver accents. My living room, kitchen, and dining room are all open to one another, so fusing finishes together and allowing all spaces to flow well is really important.

Now on to my dining room- I added a cheeky Slim Aarons photograph last week that I purchased from One Kings Lane! This photograph was taken in Sardinia near the Monte Malo villa of architect Jacques Couelle, and was the perfect piece to go above my bar cart:

I spent a lot of time picking out the perfect bar cart. When it comes to cocktailing, I don't joke around, and I knew I'd need a piece with lots of available space that would help when I entertain guests. I also wanted to pick out a cart that fit in well with my surrounding decor. I went with Macy's Vitale bar cart because I loved the modern, modular lines, the size, and the price is hard to beat (now $399). The monogrammed cocktail napkins are from Mark & Graham and the deer vase came from Anthropologie, although they no longer sell it. On the opposite wall are two pagoda shelves I picked up at a garage sale (the estate sale gods were good to me). I decorated the shelves with some of my favorite coffee table books and decor:

And lastly, I added Slim Aaron's Topping Time to my bedroom wall (another One Kings Lane score!). I love it because it's now the first thing I see when I walk in to my room, and it makes me happy (and anxious for pool season):

I am planning to get my bedroom, living room and dining room photographed soon after I finish a couple more things, so you can see the whole space rather than just tiny snippets.

I hope you like what I've done so far! It's always a work in progress.

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